Rotary air motor



M11/rch 18, 1941. A, C, R|PKE 2.235.118

. ROTARY In Moron ,Il m I H :Nvnzron lil August C. Ripke March 18, 1941.A. Q R|PKE 2,235,118

no'rARY In uo'roa l VFiled June 2, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 Il IHIIIW,Ill 25 2/ 411i im INVFNTGR August C. Ripke ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 18,1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Z Claims.

This invention has relation to a mechanical device for transformingpower as for instance compressed air into rotary motion and/or viceversa.

An object of the invention is to provide a transmission assembly thatcan be built strong and compact and at relatively low cost, avoidingextraneous and unnecessary parts as far as possible.

A further object of the invention is toprovide an improved structure ofwhat may be alternatively an air motor or air compressor in the form ofa piston, on the periphery of a revolvable disk, that travels in atubular stator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air motor with apiston revolving in an annular tube or cylinder with a knife valvebetween its inlet and outlet ports that swings out of the way to allowthe piston to pass.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthe nature and for the purpose set forth that is characterized bystructural simplicity, durability and efficiency being thereby renderedcommercially desirable.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects as shall becomeapparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention willbe best understood and can be more clearly describedwhen reference is had to the drawings forming a part of this disclosurewherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device;

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the air motor;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the revolving transmission; and

Figure 4 is a sectional detail of the air motor valve.

The air motor comprises an annular hollow tube-like stator casing I withan open slot 2 at its inner circumferential median to accommodate arevolvable disk 3. The periphery of this disk 3 enters the tube throughthe slot 2 and 5o these related parts are air sealed as found best inpractice, a cross-head flange 5 on the disk being here shown. Thepurpose of the disk is to support the piston I that is caused to revolvein the tubular stators race-way under propul- 55 sion of compressed airentering through the port 8 while pressure ahead of the piston findsoutlet through the port 9. A laterally swinging knife valve or abutmentI0, pivoted on the base II, is enclosed in the housing I2 and operatesthrough a slot I3 in the side wall of the tube I to divide 5 the inletand outlet ports 8 and 9 and swing out of the path of the piston 1 tolet it pass. This valve or abutment I0 has an outline corresponding withthe interior cross section of the tubular raceway of the stator I whenthe flange 6 of the 10 rotor disk 3 is disposed therein; the saidcrosshead flange 6 having its periphery transversely describing the arcin which said valve or abutment ID swings.

The mechanical transformer or transmission 15 consists of a xedhorizontal shaft I5 supported on a pair of spaced standards I6, I6. Agearwheel I1 is keyed to this shaft and on it revolve a pair of-diametrically opposite gears I8, I8' of similar diameter. Each gear I8,I8 has an axial 20 shaft I9, I9' projecting forwardly in one case andrearwardly in the other. On the outer end of the shaft I9, I9 is a chainsprocket 20, 2U' connecting by an endless chain 2I, 2|' with a likesprocket 22, 22 rotatable on the fixed shaft I5. 25

A revolvable framework 23 turns on the fixed shaft I5, comprising fourAdiametric arms 24 spaced on opposite sides of the gear-wheel Il andconnecting the shafts I9, I9' of the planetary gears I8, I8. These arms24 are united by 30 cross pieces 25 at opposite ends.

An offset coupler 2B connects the disk 3, axially aligned with the shaftI5, with the front gear chain sprocket 22, while to the rear chainsprocket 22', on the fixed axle I5, an offset power 35 wheel 21 isattached.

In use, it will be seen that as pressure is fed to the stator tube I bythe inlet port 8, the piston carrying disk 3 will be made to revolvecarrying with it the front chain sprocket 22, that 40 by the chain 2lturns the sprocket 20, its axle I9 and the planetary gear I8 thereoncausing the same, and the associated framework 23, to travel around thefixed gear wheel I1. The diametrically opposite planetary gear I8travels in 45 unison and in doing so turns its shaft I9 and chainsprocket 20' that by the rear chain 2|' rotates the gear chain sprocket22 and its offset power-wheel 2l olf which latter the power is taken.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be manifest that a mechanical device for transformingpower is provided that will fulfill al1 the necessary requirements ofsuch a device but as 55 many changes could be made in the abovedescription and many apparently Widely diierent embodiments of theinvention may be constructed within the scope of the appended claimsWithout departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended thatall matters contained in the said accompanying specicaton and drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitative orrestrictive sense.

What I claim as new is:

1. An air motor comprising an annular, hollow, tube-like stator casing;an open slot at the inner circumferential median thereof; a revolvabledisc with its periphery entering said tube through said slot; across-head flange on the periphery of said disc inside said tube-likestator casing providing an air seal therefor; a piston carried on saiddisc and revolvable in said tube like stator; inlet and outlet ports insaid stator; and a swinging abutment therebetween adapted to swing clearto pass said piston, said swinging abutment corresponding in outlinewith the interior of said tube-like stator casing with the rotor flangetherein and said flange on its periphery describing the arc in whichsaid abutment swings.

2. In combination with claim 1, a means for operating said swingingabutment, comprising a cam laterally offset from said disk and a pushrod pivotally attached to said swinging abutment and normally heldspring-pressed against said cam.

AUGUST C. RIPKE.

